The blaze at the Fane Road allotments in Walton, Peterborough started around 10pm last night (November 21) with a number of vehicles from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue called to tackle the blaze.
Five of the sheds on the site have been destroyed and others have been broken into.
Kevin Marratt, secretary of the Fane Road Allotments Association said the blaze was a devastating blow and allotment holders are assessing the scale of the damage and what has been taken.
He visited the site with association chairman Bob Morton and other allotment holders this morning.
“It looks like we have lost five sheds in all,” he said. “The fire brigade have been back this morningh to check over it all.
“It will be heartbreaking for the people who have lost their sheds and equipment.
“We are contacting them this morning and we will help as many people as we can to get their plots back to normal, but it is devastating for them.”
Mr Marratt said it is believed the fire was started deliberately and although the Fane Road site has had problems with break-ins in the recent past it has not had a fire for some years.
“I know other allotments in the city have had to deal with fires,” he said. “We haven’t seen a fire like this for many years though. It is heartbreaking.”
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said: “At 10.16pm three crews from Dogsthorpe, Stanground and the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade attended a report of a fire at the allotments off Montagu Road in Walton.
“On arrival firefighters discovered three sheds were on fire.
“Crews extinguished the fires by 11.43pm and left a short time later.
“One crew returned at 7am this morning to check the site again.
“It is believed the fires were started deliberately. Anyone with information should contact the police.”
Vandalism, break-ins and arson attacks have been a major problem for allotments across Peterborough.
In July seven sheds were destroyed in an arson attack at the Wesleyan Road allotments.
Then site manager at the Wesleyan site Mick Coulson said: “It is heartbreaking but we have learned over years to take it in our stride. This is just the latest blow for allotments in Peterborough.”
RELATED:
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Fane Road allotment holders looking at the damage caused after fires destroyed several sheds while others were broken into. EMN-201122-114006005 Photo: Midlands
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Association chairman Bob Morton joined Fane Road allotment holders to look at the damage caused after fires destroyed several sheds while others were broken into. Pictures David Lowndes. Photo: Midlands
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Fane Road allotment holders looking at the damage caused after fires destroyed several sheds while others were broken into. Photo: Midlands